Improvement in cotton-stalk pullers



H. LEE.

Cotton Stalk-Pullers.

No. 167,105, Patented.Aug. 24,1875.

r FIG H NJPETERS; FHOYO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. o. 0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY LEE, 0F MAHALASVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-STALK PU'LLERS.

Specification forming part 51? Letters Patent No. 167, 105, dated August24, 1875; a plication filed June 11, 1875.

- tion.

The object of the present invention is to provide for public use amachine for pulling cotton and. other stalks in the field, which shalleffectually perform its work, and be simple in construction.

The invention consists essentially in the provision of a revolvingpulling-shaft or cylinder, which is designed to act upon a series ofstalks at the same time, and is constructed with circumferential angulargrooves, in which are located obliquely-arranged biting wings or plates,each pair of wings located, respectively, on opposite sides of thegrooves in the cylinder, being so arranged that an angular or V-shapednotch is formed between them, which receives the stalk, and tends todraw or pull the same out of the ground when the cylinder is revolved;and in combination therewith I employ a revolving reel, located inadvance and above the same, for the purpose of pressing down the stalks,presenting them properly to the action of the pulling-shaft and holdingthem while being pulled.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a verticallongitudinal section of a cotton-stalk puller embracing my invention;Fig. 2, a top view thereof ,and Fig. 3, a detached view of the seizingand pulling device.

In the drawing, A denotes an arched axle or wheel frame, which isprovided with horizontal spindles or journals a, for the reception ofthe transporting or ground wheels B. A tongue, 0, is secured to thearched portion of the axle, for the attachment of the draft-team, and adrivers seat, D, is arranged above the axle. The stalk-pulling devicesare mounted in an independent frame, E, the side bars of whichare hingedto the axle A at their front ends, while the rear end of the frame issupported above the ground by meansof caster or hearing wheels F,located thereat. Near the rear end of the frame E, or thereabout, thereis located a transverse shaft or cylinder, G, which is journaled in theside bars of said frame, and is provided with circumferential grooves H.Said grooves are made wider at the periphery of the cylinder than attheir inner terminations, and thus they are caused to present an angularform, their side walls being inclined.

The cylinder may be made solid, in which instance the grooves are formedor cut by means of suitable tools, but it is also proposed to form thegrooved cylinder by means of separate or independent disks or collarsfitted on a central shaft. At suitable intervals around the cylinderthere are located biting wings or plates I, which are attached to theinner or inclined sides of the circumferential grooves. The wings orplates are arranged in longitudinal rows, and in pairs within eachgroove, so that an angular or V-shaped notch or space is left betweeneach pair of plates by reason of the peculiar form of the cylinder orthe grooves therein, and the relative arrangement of the plates orwings.

The pulling-shaft is revolved through the medium of spur-wheels J, atits ends, which gear into large spur-wheels K, affixed to the innersides of the transporting-wheels, or to the hub of the same.

When the machine is drawn forward, the pulling-shaft or cylinder isrotated in a reverse direction to that in which the machine istraveling, and in its rotation the different bitingwings willsuccessively seize and pull up the stalks which they encounter. Theangular form of the notches between the biting-wings is eminentlyadapted to insure the proper grasping or holding of the stalks untilthey have been pulled out of the ground.

In order to press down the stalks, and to above the same that thereel-arms will sweep over the periphery of the cylinder. The reel isjournaled in standards j, rising from the frame E, and it is driven bymeans of an endless chain or band,'g, and grooved wheels or pulleys h i.The reel in its rotation Will knock down the stalks, and present themproperly to the pulling-cylinder, the biting-win gs of which will thenfirmly grasp and pull up the stalks by reason of the advancing movementof the machine, and oppositely or 'backwardly revolving motion of thepulling-shaft. The reel exerts the proper pressure upon the stalks whilethe same are being held by the bitingwings, and thus it will beimpossible for the latter to release their hold or to fail in theirpulling operation. I

While the reel subserves important functions in connection with thepulling-cylinder,

it may, in certain instances, be dispensed with,

when theangular biting-wings and grooved cylinder are deemed to answerthe purpose for which the machine is designed.

his HENRY LEE.

mark. Witnesses:

F. P. A. PHELPS, M. O. PIERCE.

